Kerr’s strength not weakness
Dear Editor
Mike Rapport’s letter (Observer, November 13) and his attack on Stephen Kerr’s stance on Brexit is worthy of contesting on a number of issues.
As a member of Stirling4Europe and the European Movement in Scotland, he naturally uses the Remainers argument of`no one knew what leaving EU meant’. He remarks that Stephen Kerr himself has been`unsure of what Brexit entails’and had `toed the party line on Brexit, regardless of mutations’.
I suggest that when 498 MPs voted in February 2017 to authorise May to invoke Article 50, neither they, nor the country had settled on clear objectives for our exit, but nonetheless endorsed the process, thus playing a part in setting the conditions for these`mutations’.
The fact that Stephen Kerr has been consistent in his support of delivering what people voted for despite those mutations, demonstrates not weakness, as Mr Rapport suggests, but rather a strength of character and a deep respect for, not just the democratic vote, but for the people who cast that majority vote.
Mr Rapport uses another Remainer fallacy, much loved by SNP, that`Scotland voted strongly to remain’. Referendum is a form of direct democracy, we voted directly as individual UK citizens and not by constituent countries or constituencies. Each vote weighs the same no matter who we are or where we live. I voted for the whole of UK to remain in EU – not Scotland – and certainly not for my remain vote to be hijacked, without permission, to support a separatist narrative.
I accept the result to leave EU and as such will be voting for Stephen Kerr as Conservatives are the only ones respecting democracy and trying to deliver that result.
A vote for SNP’s Alyn Smith is a vote to subvert our democratic processes and overturn the decision electorate were asked to make. It will also be claimed as a vote to break up the UK.
Far from`ensuring Stirling’s and Scotland’s voice is heard’, as Mr Rapport suggests, it would ensure only SNP voices would be heard. It’s a disagreeable trait of Nationalist parties everywhere to seek to conflate themselves with the country they claim to speak for. Scotland is bigger than the SNP and deserves better.
Agnes Kennedy Kilbryde, Dunblane